meanwhile: Iraqi govt asserts its independence

Shiite bloc holds off OK to US-Iraq security pact
By ROBERT H. REID and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writers
19 Oct 2008
BAGHDAD – Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling Shiite coalition withheld support Sunday for the proposed security pact that would keep U.S. troops here for three more years, dealing a setback to American hopes of a speedy approval of the agreement.

Just a reminder: The U.N. mandate under with U.S. forces in Iraq currently operate expires in December.
Without a SOFA in place, the U.S. will have no legal authority to keep troops in Iraq.

Interesting.

Stop the madness!